Aiman Zulkifar, Sunday, July 2, 2017

General

COMPANIES and online business owners can now register their businesses with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) through Biztrust.

SSM Biztrust is a standard certification in the form of a logo or seal. This logo symbolises a standard guarantee that can only be obtained by the business entity through an online application.

The commission’s chief executive officer, Datuk Zahrah Abdul Wahab Fenner said during the BizTrust soft launch that businesses or companies registering with BizTrust would acquire the standard logo.

“They, especially online businesses, can put the logo and link up on their website, and they will link it to the SSM official website, showing that the company has been registered with SSM,” she said.

She said BizTrust was currently undergoing a trial period, testing its services with a few companies to smooth out any potential glitches.

“We want consumers and business operators to run their businesses smoothly. By registering with SSM, the company helps to build trust among its consumers,” she said.

She said the main objective of SSM BizTrust was to provide a platform for online business owners to get a BizTrust certification through the seal, which can be found at their website.

“Their consumers can check the link on their websites to see if that particular company or business has been registered with SSM.

“This will help lessen the dodgy transactions that may happen from dealing with unregistered companies,” she said.

She said that most of the time, consumers were cheated by online business operators who did not sell items according to what they had posted on their website or social media account.

“Customers who have been cheated can lodge a report with the Consumer Tribunal, which will be taken to the Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism Ministry for action to be taken against them (the operators),” she said.

She said every entity running an online business needed to build confidence in its consumers that it was following set business ethics.

“Under BizTrust, there are three levels that business owners need to go through. The first level (certifies that one has) complied with registration criteria and principles.

“The second level certifies compliance with the registration criteria and principles, and the security or privacy criteria,” she said.

“The third level certifies compliance with all the registration criteria and principles, as well as the security and privacy criteria.”

Zahrah said SSM would run investigations, and based on the outcome of its reports, companies can be blacklisted and their registration terminated.

Alan Tan, one of the online business operators selected to register with BizTrust’s pilot session, said he had registered his company for the past 10 years under SSM.

“It helps me to build trust with my clients and to conduct business deals with the government,” said the business development director of Intellego Solutions, a company dealing in software.

Aiman Zulkifar, Monday, May 1, 2017

General

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 March 2017 – Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, together with Jack Ma, founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, launched the world’s first Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) today. DFTZ will provide physical and virtual zones to facilitate SMEs to capitalise on the convergence of exponential growth of the internet economy and cross-border eCommerce activities. It will act as a microcosm to support internet companies to trade goods, provide services, innovate and co-create solutions.

DFTZ will be a boost to Malaysia’s eCommerce roadmap that was introduced in 2016, which aims to double the nation’s eCommerce growth and increase the GDP contribution to RM211 billion (approximately US$47.68 billion) by year 2020.

“Malaysians have embraced the internet economy and eCommerce in a big way. We are now leading the eCommerce market in the region generating revenue of US$2.3billion in 2015. With the launch of the world’s first Digital Free Trade Zone, Malaysia will serve as a regional eFulfillment center, and also become the regional hub for SMEs, marketplaces and monobrands,” said Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Dato’ Sri Najib added, “Both DFTZ and Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), the brainchild of Jack Ma, have one common goal. We want to help SMEs overcome the complex regulations, processes and barriers, and eventually further encourage businesses and traders to connect and collaborate in cross-border trading”.

The launch ceremony also witnessed the exchanges of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between four parties, and they are;

MDEC and Alibaba Group for strategic collaboration in the development of DFTZ in Malaysia consistent with the objective of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP); and the development of a Regional Hub for eCommerce business, trade facilitation, SME onboarding, cloud services for enterprises and an eFulfilment and logistics hub.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad and Cainiao Network for the development of a regional eCommerce and Logistics Hub in KLIA Aeropolis as part of the Digital Free Trade Zone Initiative.

Alipay and Maybank / Alipay and CIMB for the collaboration in launching Alipay barcode payment in Malaysia. This partnership will enable mainland Chinese tourists to make payment using their favourite payment method - their Alipay e-wallet. For Malaysian merchants, this will give them exposure to the vast China market.

MDEC and Catcha Group for the collaboration for the establishment of Kuala Lumpur Internet City (KLIC).

DFTZ consists of three main components that combine both physical and virtual zones. The physical zone comprises of the eFulfillment Hub and Satellite Services Hub while the virtual zone consists of the eServices Platform.

DFTZ will provide SMEs, marketplaces and monobrands a holistic eCommerce trading experience through these benefits:

Strategic location and global best-in-class facilities

Gateway to the region and proximity to sea and air ports

High efficiency modular eFulfillment warehouse

Satellite services hub to support eCommerce ecosystem

Employee-centric infrastructure

Services

Unified government services platform

Integrated digital eServices platform to access leading global service providers

Presence of global logistics and fulfilment service providers

Regulatory processes

Improve regulatory processes leading to faster customs and cargo clearance

DFTZ has the potential to double the growth rate of Malaysian SMEs’ goods export by 2025. It is also estimated to support US$65 billion worth of goods moving through DFTZ. Additionally, DFTZ is expected to create 60,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2025.

“DFTZ is a testament to Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to propel the growth of SMEs through eCommerce. It also marks a new phase of collaboration between Malaysian and Chinese businesses through the participation of Mr. Ma and Alibaba Group. I strongly believe that together, we can achieve a more prosperous economic landscape that benefits the industry and people,” Dato’ Sri Najib commented.

“The eWTP or Electronic World Trade Platform should be driven by businesses and supported by governments. If we can build an inclusive platform for businesses and young people to trade and do business freely, openly, and fairly, this will be fundamental to the world economy over the next 20 to 30 years and for the century,” said Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group.

DFTZ’s implementation of physical and virtual zones will be done in phases. The first eFulfillment Hub will be centred at KLIA Aeropolis. KLIA Aeropolis development is centered on the key clusters of air cargo and logistics, aerospace and aviation. The initial phase will be rolled out before the end of 2017 by Alibaba, Cainiao, Lazada and POS Malaysia, leading to the formal launch of Alibaba's facility at the end of 2019.

The other physical component of the DFTZ is the Satellite Services Hub, to be located in Bandar Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur Internet City (KLIC) will be the first satellite services hub of DFTZ and will be developed by another strategic partner, Catcha Group, Southeast Asia’s leading internet group. KLIC is set to be the premier digital hub for global and local internet-related companies targeting Southeast Asia. It will comprise of key players within the internet ecosystem to facilitate end-to-end support, networking and knowledge-sharing that will drive innovation in the internet economy and the eCommerce industry.

“Catcha Group is proud to be a strategic partner of DFTZ, supporting Malaysia’s plan to propel the growth of the country’s internet economy. We are excited to be developing KLIC, bringing all the key eCommerce players and internet companies within close proximity of each other to create a premier digital hub. Our vision for KLIC is to be the ASEAN headquarter for global internet MNC’s, regional leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs in the internet ecosystem.” said Patrick Grove, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Catcha Group.

The virtual zone, which is the E-Services Platform, will be made available in time to support the goods movement within DFTZ. The e-Services platform will also offer integrated services that will help deliver a streamlined and efficient experience to the users operating from the DFTZ.

Further expansions of DFTZ are also planned for beyond 2019.

ABOUT MALAYSIA DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION (MDEC)

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation or MDEC (formerly known as Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd.) is the lead agency in driving the digital economy in Malaysia under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia. Since its inception 20 years ago, MDEC’s mission is to develop the nation’s digital economy. MDEC’s implementation efforts are centred on driving investments, building local tech champions, catalysing digital innovation ecosystems and propagating digital inclusivity.

MDEC is also responsible to ensure that Malaysia plays an integral part in developing and nurturing talent to drive digital innovation around the world, while attracting participation from global ICT companies to invest and develop cutting edge digital and creative solutions in the country.

To know more about MDEC’s efforts and initiatives in driving Digital economy, please visit www.mdec.my or follow us on:

Monitoring BizTrust seals

Monitoring BizTrust seals

Once a BizTrust Seal is issued, the online trader may continue to display the seal on its website and will have to renew the assurance seal periodically.

The monitoring of BizTrust Seal may depend upon the online trader’s operation; the frequency of changes to the online trader’s systems and policies; and the professional judgement of Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM).

However, if the online trader is no longer in compliance, the online trader must remove the seal from its web site.

Seal Renewal

The seal will remain valid for one year, plus a ninety day grace period, unless it is revoked or suspended. The grace period is provided to allow sufficient time for completing the follow-up review.

Revoking or Suspending Seals

If SSM determines that the online trader’s systems, policies and disclosures fail to comply with the BizTrust Services Principles and Criteria at any time or if the online trader fails to renew the seal through a follow-up review at the end of one year, SSM will immediately notify the online trader and advise that the seal must be removed from the online trader’s web site and any printed or online materials.

Restoring Seals

SSM may restore a BizTrust Services Seal after it has been revoked or suspended if an unqualified report can be rendered. SSM may either reinstate the original report if it is once again accurate or issue a new report.